Sealing machine



E. L. WALKER.

SEALING MACHINE. v APPLICATION F1LEDJULY16,1919.

E. L. WALKER. SEALING MACHINE. APPLICATION f|LEn1uLv16,1919.

wm ww UNITED STATES EMERY L. WALKER, 0F MILW'AUKEE, W'ISCONSIN. y i

snanrne MACHINE.

Application led July 16.

To all fio/tom, t may concern:

Be it lrnown that l., Finnair L. Walmart a citizen of the llnited States. residing at Milwaukee, in the county of lililwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in `Sealing Ma* chines, of which the following` is a full. clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying draw ings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to sealing machines and more particularly to machines of this character which are used for sealing the folded ends of knock down shipping containers or boxes. Such shipping` containers are manufactured by the box manufacturer in large quantities of suitable material such as fibre board7 box board or corr ugated'board. and are shipped in a collapsed condition to the user, who fills the container with ma terials which are to be transported. The collapsed containers prior to their filling must have the unfolded box flaps at one extremity thereof sealed, whereupon the arti` cles to be shipped are placed therein, and thereupon the box flaps at the opposite extremity must be sealed, whereupon the shipping container with its contents is ready for shipment. The initial sealing of the box flaps at one extremity prior to the introduction of the articles to be shipped is taken care of by machines such as shown in reissue patent yto Morton No. 14,267, dated March 6. 1917. and is called bottom sealing. The .shipping container with one end sealed is then filled with the contents which it is to carr)7 and the other extremity is sealed, which is known as top sealing.

My present invention concerns itself with the provision of a machine for effecting this top sealing operation of the folded flaps ofV the shipping container after the articles which it is to carry have been introduced therein.

My invention concerns itself particularly with the provision of a machine of this character which is enabled to effect the operations outlined in connection with ship'- ping containers of the class specified usingthe heavier grades of material such as card board, box boa-rd, corrugated board or the like. The use of such material presents peculiar difficulties due to irregularities and dissimilarities of the various containers. As stated, .my present invention concerns itself primarily with the provision of a machine Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. `21,` 1922.y

1919. Serial No. 311,170.

capable of sealing the tops of filled shipping containers.

l will explain one form which my invention may take more in detail by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a front view of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. fl is a sectional view on line 1 -4C of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig, 4l. and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. S.

Referring to the figures. l; show in `lfig. 1 a two unit sealing machine. ltwill of course be understood that my invention contemplates the duplicating of units to any desirable amount so as to accommodate the desirable to have anumber of units suliicient that an operator may operate the sealing machine No. 1 and then pass to sealing ma chine No. 2 so that by the time he is through with the series he can come back to sealing machine No. 1, the elapsed time having been sufficient to permit thorough sealing of the shipping container placed in sealing machine No. 1.

The two unit machine as illustrated in the figures comprises standards 10` 10, 10,'which are suitably provided with feet 11 which may be desirably bolted to the floor, these standards at their upper extremities having cross rods 12 and 13. These cross rods'lQ and, 18 tie the standards 10 together soas to provide a rigid structure. The cross rods 12 and 13 and'standards 10are held together at their meeting points by couplings 14, set screws 15 and 16 serving the customary purpose of fastening the parts together. The standards support a lower platen 17 which co-'operates with an upper platen 18 movably arranged so as to travel upwardly and downwardly. 4

By referring more particularly to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the filled shipping container -19lilled with suitable packages 2O and having its bottom already sealed, preferably upon a sealing `machine such as disclosed in the aforementioned Morton patent, is placed upon the lower platen 17 after the unfolded flaps 21, 22 and 23 have been provided. withfthe necessary adhesive in the manner presently to be'explained. Thereupon, the upper platen. 18 is moved downwardly into scaling position to seal the flaps 21, 22, and 23 together', the operator at the same time exerting a pressure against the front edge 24 of the shipping container to press it against thejrearwardly arranged stops 25FL so that the abutting ends of the `flaps 21 and 22 are brought tightly to gether. The mechanism which holds the Y platen 18 downwardly is of such character 25 toward its destination.

It is a prime object of my invention to provide suitable means co-operating with the sealing portion of the machine thus far described which support the lilled shipping containerduring the process of applying the adhesive to the top liaps, and which means may preferably at the same time be of advantage in moving the sealed shipping con` tainer toward its destination. The plunger or upper platen 18 is also universally and resiliently mounted so that it conforms it self to the top surface of the shipping container and so that it exerts a yielding pressure against the top of the shipping container whereby proper sealing action be` tween the flaps is secured.

It is also a prime object ofV my invention to provide means of adjustment of the platens 17 and 18 relatively toward each other so as to accommodate shipping containers of different heights, and the preferred form of making this adjustment, as disclosed herein, consists of means 4in connection'with the collar 26 which will pres-l ently be explained whereby a rough adjustment is secured and in addition, the means shown at 27, `which will presently be explained in detail, whereby a more delicate or fine adjustment is secured. l have thus outlinedin general the functionsto be performed by a machine of this class and those elements which are desirable in attaining successful operation thereof. L

I will now explain more in detail thevarious structural features as embodiedherein i which indicate by way of illustrationVthe specific embodiment which I have chosen for illustration herein. The lower platen 17 rests upon suitable collars or sleeves 28 which are slidable up and down upon the `standards 10. These sleeves 28 rest upon collars 26,` which collars have teeth 29 ar ranged at different heights, which teeth COFe operate with pins 30.7V .The pins VA30 are adapted for insertion within holes 31 at the appropriate height and the collars 26 are rough adjustment between -the platens 17 and 18. The upper platen 18 is universally mounted upon a spindle 32, which spindle is slidable up and down within a bearing 33 slidably secured in place upon the cross strips 12 and 13. The spindle 32 is movable upwardly and downwardly through the agency of a cam 34, this cam being controlled by the handle 35. The cam engages an adjustable plate 36Vwhich is mounted upon and forms part of thel spindle structurey 32. Whenever the arm 35 (Fig. 3) is moved contracloclrwise, the plate 36 together with the spindle 32 and plunger 18V are moved downwardly, the construction of the cam 34 being such thatthe plunger 18 is locked in itslowermost position until the operator exerts an upward pressure against the handle 35. The line adjustment between the plungers is provided at the upper extremity of the spindle 32'and consists Vof a cap plate 37 rigidly secured to the upper extremity of the spindle 32, which cap plate pivotally supports the plate 36. A set screw 38 controls the position of the platel 36 relatively to the cap plate 37 and thus controls the distance between the platen or plunger 18 and the cam shaft 39. A spring 40 mounted within the bearing structure 33 normally forces the spindle 32 and the parts carried by it upwardly against the cam 34. The platen 18, as before stated, is universally mounted relatively to the spindle 32 and this is brought about by having the platen 'provided with an annular bearing sleeve 41 surrounding the spindle, the arrangement of the bearing sleeve 41 by reason of its cut away portions being such that the plunger is permitted a slight but universal movement relatively to the said spindle. A pin 42 prevents the platen from moving downwardly ofl'l from the spindle 32 under the pressure of the spring 43 which backs up Vthe platen. The strength of this spring is adjusted by means of the collar 744.1 By reason of the'spring 43 I have what may be called a whereby the plunger 18 Vis resiliently or yieldingly mounted in addition to its universal mounting as above explained. The pin 42 rides in slots 45 formed in'thehub portion 46 of the platen, thereby preventin a rotational movement of the platen 18.` set screw 46a holds the platen in position on the sleevel 41.

In order to provide proper facilities for supporting the container 19 during the process of applying adhesive to the top flap,

.and to provide means for properly moving springbacked plunger or platen said shipping container from said position,

I employ the structure which I will now cle-- scribe and which is mounted forwardly of the lower platen 17, The structure broadly contemplates a work table and the particularform 'which this work table takes in this application gives the added facility whereby the container may be moved thereon from place to place and away from the sealing machine.

This structure primarily contemplates the arms et? ixedly mounted in the sleeves 28 preferably by means of the set screws 48, as shown. These arms support lugs 49, which lugs in turn carry the longitudinal strips 50 between which suitable rollers 51 are mounted. These rollers serve in the dual capacity of work table and conveyor. The structure also contemplates forwardly extending arms 52 between which the roller 53 is rotatably carried. A shipping container whose bottom is sealed and which is filled with the articles of merchandise is placed upon the rollers 51, which, as before stated, serve as the work table. The adhesive is applied to the flaps 23 and all of the flaps are folded approximately into the position shown in Fig. 8. Thereupon, the shipping container is moved into the position shown in Fig. 3, being aided in its passage by the roller 53. The lever 35 is then operated contra-clockwise to bring the overlapping flaps together, whereupon the flaps are sealed.

It will be noted that my improved device is of particular utility in connection -with the .ealing of shipping containers as outlined herein, consisting` of the heavier material of which. such containers are made as dist-inguished' from cartons of light thin paper.

In my co-pending` application Serial No. 811.171, filed July 16, 1919. I show a machine of this general character which is convertible so that it may be used both for top and bottom sealing.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 311.172, filed July 16, 1919, I show a machine of this general character provided with conveyors and such conveyors are claimed in the said co-pending application.

lilhile I have herein shown and particularly described one form which my invention.

may take, it will of course be obvious that many modilications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from 'its spirit.

that I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A sealing machine of the character described for sealingthe top flaps of lled shipping containers, comprising a framework, a lower platen adapted to receive the container associated with said framework, rough adjusting means for the platen, an upper platen, fine adjusting means for the upper platen, and means for moving said upper platen toward said lower platen whereby to clamp said container between said platens to thereby seal said top flaps together.

2. A sealing machine of the character described for sealing the t'op flaps of filled shipping containers, comprising a lrameworli, a lower platen adapted to receive thefilled container associated with said framework, an upper platen, an adjustable plate connected therewith, and means engaging said plate for effecting relative movement of said platens toward each other whereby to seal said top flaps together, one of said platens having a universaland yielding mounting.

`3. A sealing machine of the character described for sealing the top liaps of filled shiping containers, comprising a framework, a lower platen adapted to receive the container associated with said framework, an upper platen, means for effecting relative Inovement of said platens toward each other whereby to seal said top flaps together, and means to adjust the normal relative position of said platens, said means including mechanism for effecting a rough7 adjustment and mechanism for effecting a fine adjustment.

4. A sealing machine of the character described for sealing the top flaps of filled shipping containers, comprising a framework, a lower platen adapted to receive the container associated with said framework, an upper platen, means for effecting relative movement of said platens towardA each other whereby to seal said top flaps together, and means to adjust the normal relative position of said platens, said means including mechanism for effecting a rough adjustment and mechanism for effecting a ine7 adjustment, said rough adjustment mechanism including a serrated sleeve.

5. A sealingl machine of the character described for sealing the top flaps of filled shipping containers, comprising a framework, a lower platen adapted to receive the container associated with said framework, an upper platen, means for moving said upper platen toward said lower platen whereby to clamp said container between said platens to thereby seal said top flaps together, an adjustable plate carried by said upper platen and engaged by said moving means for varying the movement of said upper platen.

6. A sealing machine of the character described for sealing the top iiaps of filled shipping containers, comprising a framework. a lower platen adapted to receive the container associated with said framework, an upper platen, means for effecting relative` movement of said platens toward each other whereby to seal said top tlaps together, means along one edge of said upper .platen against which the container may be pressed to force abutting container flaps together, and an adjustable plate carried by said upper platen and engaged.- by said moving means for varying the movement of said upper platen. i*

pin adapted to cooperate with any one of said recesses to adjust said platen'relatively tosaid framework, an upper platen slidable l5 in said framework and means for moving said upper platen toward said lower platen to clamp 'said container between said platens to seal saidtop Haps together.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 2e my name this 2nd day of July, A. D., 1919.

EMERY L. WALKER 

